How To Keep Moving Forward, From A Soon-To-Be College Grad

Now, stress is a broad subject. Everyone is a victim of it. There’s stress in school, personal and social life. It seems as if there’s no way to escape it. In my opinion, the worst form of stress comes in the form of over-analysis and assuming the past will repeat itself. This is something that has come to surface in my life quite recently. So here I am writing about how I feel.

The only way I know how, getting my crazy over-the-top bubbling emotions out of my negative black cauldron.

It isn’t a secret that 2015/2016 was a tough year for me. I experienced a lot of changes and lost a few people I hold close to my heart. I also lost myself for a little bit. Being the same time of the year when shit hit the fan last year, a lot of past emotions are surfacing.

A friend of mine suggested I write this, in hopes of relieving myself in a way, making me realize I should listen to my friends more because my cauldron becomes clouded in smoke — quite literally.

A year ago during this time, my world was turned upside down, and I was forced to learn how to pick up my broken pieces. I had no choice. I couldn’t go back; I could only move forward. And that’s the piece of advice that I continue to carry with me. That the past is the past and all we can do is fix what we can and move on to create an even more fulfilling result.

I can honestly relate to the Chinese pottery technique known as Kintsugi. Do me a favor and look it up if you don’t know what it is. Kintsugi is the art form where broken pieces of pottery are repaired with gold, creating an even more unique and beautiful piece.

Something that was once damaged came out looking better than ever before.

And that’s my goal, to keep doing better.

To keep mending my broken pieces until all you can see is the gold shining through. And, there wouldn't be the gold if mistakes can't be made. As hard and tedious as it may be, the outcome will always be golden if you work hard and power through the breakage.

Coming from a lazy girl like me, working hard is not fun. But it’s worth it in the end.

I keep saying "end" as if there’s a point in my life where I’m going to say, oh yeah, I won the race, I’m here. But in reality, there are hundreds of ends we face in our lives. And that just means we just have to keep striving to do better and be better and lean on those who want you to lean on them. We can't go through life alone, living isn't intended that way.

One thing I’ve learned that plays a role in coping with stress is the concept of patience and listening, something I do not practice well. I’m lucky enough to have friends who understand what I’m going through and teach me how to have the patience and persistence that I need.

The fact is, we aren’t living life locked away like Princess Fiona in Shrek. We can't just wait around for things to happen, assuming life will fall into place. Taking action and moving forward is the only way to go. You'll trip over yourself if you stand still and the world keeps moving.

10 Things Someone Who Grew Up In A Private School Knows

1. Uniforms

Plaid. The one thing that every private school-goer knows all too well. It was made into jumpers, skirts, shorts, scouts, hair ties, basically anything you could imagine, the school plaid was made into. You had many different options on what to wear on a normal day, but you always dreaded dress uniform day because of skirts and ballet flats. But it made waking up late for school a whole lot easier.

2. New people were a big deal

New people weren't a big thing. Maybe one or two a year to a grade, but after freshman year no one new really showed up, making the new kid a big deal.

3. You've been to school with most of your class since Kindergarten

Most of your graduating class has been together since Kindergarten, maybe even preschool, if your school has it. They've become part of your family, and you can honestly say you've grown up with your best friends.

4. You've had the same teachers over and over

Having the same teacher two or three years in a row isn't a real surprise. They know what you are capable of and push you to do your best.

5. Everyone knows everybody. Especially everyone's business.

Your graduating class doesn't exceed 150. You know everyone in your grade and most likely everyone in the high school. Because of this, gossip spreads like wildfire. So everyone knows what's going on 10 minutes after it happens.

6. Your hair color was a big deal

If it's not a natural hair color, then forget about it. No dyeing your hair hot pink or blue or you could expect a phone call to your parents saying you have to get rid of it ASAP.

7. Your school isn't like "Gossip Girl"

There is no eating off campus for lunch or casually using your cell phone in class. Teachers are more strict and you can't skip class or just walk right off of campus.

8. Sports are a big deal

Your school is the best of the best at most sports. The teams normally go to the state championships. The rest of the school that doesn't play sports attends the games to cheer on the teams.

9. Boys had to be clean-shaven, and hair had to be cut

If you came to school and your hair was not cut or your beard was not shaved, you were written up and made to go in the bathroom and shave or have the head of discipline cut your hair. Basically, if you know you're getting written up for hair, it's best just to check out and go get a hair cut.

10. Free dress days were like a fashion show

Wearing a school uniform every day can really drive you mad. That free dress day once a month is what you lived for. It was basically a fashion show for everyone, except for those upperclassmen who were over everything and just wore sweat pants.

Academics and Creativity Conflicts

As students, we are heavily focused on academics. Some of us may also be heavily focused on athletics. Anything that helps or is integrated into our academic careers has a way of controlling how we live our daily life. We go to class, we study and do homework, we attend activities/work, and then we most likely have little time to relax.

One thing that seems to lack in the academic world is creativity. Many students may say "Well, I'm not creative." Why have students subjected themselves to being uncreative individuals? How does someone define "creativity" as the verbatim definition across the world? Creativity can be used widely if we are aware of how it can be done.

In the classroom, students can find creative ways to approach a debate, a different way of understanding a topic, changing the argument and allowing different perspectives and voices to be heard, and so much more.

Students can find different ways of changing the issues our communities may face such as homelessness, segregated communities, etc.

Organizations can be created to fill in the gaps our communities may have (including in a university).

Students can remain to do creative activities such as crafts, writing, art, etc. This can be done within different organizations or in the comfort of the student's home.

There are different platforms that encourage creativity like photoshop, video editing software, websites like Wattpad to create and share your own stories, and more.

We cannot let academics take over every moment of our lives. It can easily result in a point where we have no motivation to do anything at all because we are in a constant routine that can drain us. We are more than school, although it is still very important. If we shall succeed, we have to embrace the things we love to do and not forget about who we are.